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poster of The Box
Rating: 5.6/10 by 1747 users

The Box (2009)

Norma and Arthur Lewis, a suburban couple with a young child, receive a simple wooden box as a gift, which bears fatal and irrevocable consequences. A mysterious stranger delivers the message that the box promises to bestow upon its owner $1 million with the press of a button. However pressing this button will simultaneously cause the death of another human being somewhere in the world; someone they don't know. With just 24 hours to have the box in their possession, Norma and Arthur find themselves in the cross-hairs of a startling moral dilemma and must face the true nature of their humanity.

Directing:
  • Richard Kelly
  • Crisoforo Aguilar
  • Jason Altieri
  • Dieter Busch
  • Mark Carter
  • Maxine Bergen
Writing:
  • Richard Kelly
  • Richard Matheson
Stars:
Release Date: Thu, Oct 29, 2009

Rating: 5.6/10 by 1747 users

Alternative Title:
La caja mortal - AR
La caja mortal - CL
Laegas - EE
La caja - MX

Country:
United States of America
Language:
English
Runtime: 01 hour 55 minutes
Budget: $30,000,000
Revenue: $33,333,531

Plot Keyword: research, husband wife relationship, experiment, sacrifice, library, nasa, homicide, 1970s, paranoia, stalker, decision, money, conspiracy, wedding, scientist, police officer, button, box, mysterious stranger, moral dilemma, christmas, nsa agent, richmond, virginia
Subtitle   Wallpaper   Watch Trailer    

Cameron Diaz
Norma Lewis
James Marsden
Arthur Lewis
Frank Langella
Arlington Steward
James Rebhorn
Norm Cahill
Sam Oz Stone
Walter Lewis
Celia Weston
Lana Burns
Lisa K. Wyatt
Rhonda Martin
Mark S. Cartier
Martin Teague
Kevin Robertson
Wendell Matheson
Michele Durrett
Rebecca Matheson
Ian Kahn
Vick Brenner
Ryan Woodle
Jeffrey Carnes
Robert Harvey
NASA Executive
Gentry Lee
Chief Engineer
Frank Ridley
Detective Starrs
Daniel Stewart Sherman
Police Officer #1
Matthew C. Flynn
Police Officer #2
Patrick Canty
Police Officer #3
Mary Klug
Female Neighbor
Allyssa Brooke
Suzanne Weller
Cheryl McMahon
Female 911 Operator
Evelina Turen
Deborah Burns
Bill Buell
Dr. Earl Stupe
Paul Marini
Santa Claus
Rick L'Heureux
Chase Employee
Nick Cairis
Chase Employee
Robert Denton
Chase Employee
Paul Locke
Chase Employee
Danny DeMiller
Chase Employee
Jenna Lamia
Diane Carnes (voice)
Winstead Barnes
NASA Executive (uncredited)
Greg Berney
Drama Class Kid (uncredited)
Jodie Brunelle
911 Operator (uncredited)
Danny Carney
Soldier (uncredited)
Danny Connelly
Library Employee (uncredited)
William Conrad
Self (voice) (uncredited)
John Curie
Nosey Neighbor's Grandson (uncredited)
John E. Daniel
Reporter (uncredited)
Paige Flannery
Student (uncredited)
Keith Fluker
Military Officer (uncredited)
Steve Flynn
Guest at Wedding Reception (uncredited)
John Franchi
Lurker (uncredited)
Jay Gates
Reporter (uncredited)
Patrick Mel Hayes
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Benjamin Healy
Bartender (uncredited)
Mark Hetherington
Homeless Library Patron (uncredited)
Steven Howitt
NASA Scientist (uncredited)
Jessica Knight
NASA Employee (uncredited)
Jon Korzeniowski
State Trooper (uncredited)
Sal Lizard
Santa Claus (uncredited)
Tina Mann
NASA Scientist (uncredited)
CJ McBath
Photographer (uncredited)
Alex Milne
Child at Bus Stop (uncredited)
Jason Mulcahy
Edgy & Hip Family Guest (uncredited)
Roxanne Nichols
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Ed O'Keefe
Norma's Abductor (uncredited)
Richard Pacheco
Joel Reidy (uncredited)
Greg Paul
NASA Engineer (uncredited)
Dan Perrault
The Valet (uncredited)
Drew Rose
Groomsman (uncredited)
Mustafa Speaks
Employee (uncredited)
Vyvian B. Stevens
Brainwashed Follower (uncredited)
Franz Strassmann
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
David Struffolino
NASA Rocket Scientist (uncredited)
Marc Vos
Banquet Waiter (uncredited)
Jamie Christopher White
Hotel Follower (uncredited)
Deborah Rush
Clymene Steward

John Chard

If you push the button, two things will happen. The best quote I ever saw as regards Richard Kelly's The Box, was that it is a Marmite movie. Marmite is a food substance that people either love or hate, The Box is a Marmite movie. Cameron Diaz and James Marsden star as a couple who are visited by a mysterious stranger (Frank Langella) who has a bizarre offer. The Box now in the couple's possession has a button (Langella's mysterious Arlington Steward informs them it's called the Button Unit), they are told that if they push the button then a complete stranger will die, they will then receive a life changing amount of money. What to do?. Based on a Richard Matheson short story titled "Button, Button", The Box is an ethereal mind meld of a piece. Morals and ethics are married up to a whole bunch of twists and other worldly ideas, which goes some way to explaining that where once there was a more than adequate half hour "Twilight Zone" episode (Profile in Silver/Button, Button 1986), there is now a near two hour movie crammed to the brim. It's this that hurts an otherwise stylishly produced and potentially thoughtful picture. After the raves and craves for his "Donnie Darko (2001)", Richard Kelly appeared to believe the press praise, that here was a new surreal director on the block. Where "M. Night Shyamalan" had success with the twist gimmick and couldn't let it go until his career went in the swamp, so to Kelly who kept straining to make movies that were needlessly over complex, trying to be smart when it isn't needed ("Southland Tales (2006)" is a car wreck of a movie). The Box does have intelligence and lots of good ideas, but a two hour film it does not make, with the attempts at weaving all the threads together proving to be too problematic come the finale. Incredulity a most appropriate word, plausibility is not. The Box, an intriguing - attractive - failure, but some do and will love it. If you haven't seen it then roll the dice and good luck. 6/10 Footnote: We have yet to actually get an adaptation to screen that contains Matheson's original literary ending!


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